Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Rabeah, Minister of Health and Chairman of the Health Services Council, chaired the 56th meeting of the Health Services Council, which met Thursday at the Council headquarters. Dr. Yaqoub Bin Yusuf Al-Mazrou?, Secretary General of the Council, said the meeting?s actions included approval of policies and controls prepared by a committee of personnel of Health Services Council and its Secretariat General. The Council approved the national health accounts and said it considered the establishment of a cost-accounts system as a preliminary step for the health sectors. It set a five-year plan to implement the system, specifying that the first year would focus on setting up the central administration and training. The meeting also approved central Service Council health facilities taking the help of expatriates in the health sector. Additionally, the Council reviewed its relationship with the National Company for the Unified Purchase of Medicines and Medical Equipment and Requirements, he added. Officials at the meeting also discussed the project to prepare a national health dictionary and approved the formation of a committee from health sectors to study the proposal and implement it. In another matter, officials at the meeting discussed a proposal for granting a work allowance for home health care workers. Dr. Al-Mazrou? said the meeting also granted approval to update data for the study on human resources and needs of the health sectors, along with plans to hold a workshop to discuss the study results, which will be attended by personnel in health and education sectors. The gathering also provided an opportunity for the Minister of Health to tour the new building of the Secretariat General of the Health Services Council. The Health Services Council is coordinating with health authorities in the Kingdom to raise standards by improving health and reducing disease, disability and mortality rates. The Council is working to establish regulations to guarantee integration between health authorities in the Kingdom, which will help provide high-quality health services, prevent duplication of services and reduce the amount of resources that are wasted. The overall aim is to achieve equality in the distribution of health services and work with the health authorities to guarantee execution of national plans to improve health. __
